I picked a couple of bad days to be in Roscoe though: in three days the water temperatures dropped over 10 degrees to 48. This really slowed things down, Over two days I saw some BWOs and fall caddis, but not a single snout broke the surface of the water to feed. Three other guys I talked and fished with had the same experience. To get the fish to move it took small streamers--mostly olive dace tied on size 10 and 12 9671s. I took several fish this way--all browns between 11-13 inches.
One morning, when teasing fish with streamers, a large brown of about 16 inches broke clear of the water--a big leap, a good foot clear from the river--and dropped with a big splash. He wasn't feeding; I simply think he wanted to get a good look at what the hell was going on in his pool.
I've seen this happen many times before, and I'm sure others have too. I call these fish scout trout. They jump, look around, go back into the river with a big splash, and, one supposes, tell their buddies what they saw. I always laugh when I wonder about the last part.
Up in Maine, the landlocks do this a lot--as if it's play. But I really don't know what they are doing. Has anyone written about this subject, and if so can you steer me in the direction of some edification.
thanks, bb
p.s. obligatory Beaverkill trout picture:
